Chapter FOURTEEN

Astrology

The Caldeans of Mesopotamia were the first people of record in the Western world to actively investigate the behavior of life in relation to the sun and the stars, including the planets. The information which comes to us in unbroken direct lineage is called Astrology. Until the late 18th century, Astrology was a respected and required subject at all universities of the Western world. Early Astronomers such as Johannas Kepler were primarily astute Astrologers and advanced the science of Astronomy only in order to further their understanding of Astrology. In fact, to them there was no separation of the two disciplines. This is quite easily seen from reading Keplers works as a whole and not just those parts which relate to Astronomy per se.

Present day Astrology is just as dogmatic as present day science. Try talking to a "Scientist" about Astrology and they act as if you are a lunatic. Try talking to an "Astrologer" about science and they simply ignore you. The "Scientist" places Astrology with witchdoctors and the "Astrologer" is so truly ignorant about anything to do with science that they ignore you out of self defense. This is only a generalization I know, but in the main true. Obviously, there are a very few exceptions. Very few, in my experience. Each is ignorant. The meaning of the word ignorant is not to accept something as important enough to pay any sort of attention to it. It has no connotation upon ones ability to learn and understand. Each ignores the knowledge of the other and thereby each suffers conceptually and creatively.

I have often asked myself why such phenomena occur. While reading the book "From Mesmer To Freud", the reason for this came to me in a flash of insight. I have been aware that all, and I do mean "ALL", of mankind's endeavors is simply a reflection of the state of their physiology. All religion, all philosophy, all art, all social interaction, everything is simply a reflection of the actual structure of physical being and the biochemical workings thereof and hence ultimately a reflection of one's genetic makeup. Being so intimately aware of this fact of organic existence, it dawned on me that all of the so-called conflict is in reality the fact that mankind has so few individuals capable of synthesizing coherently left brain and right brain functions. The right hand does not know what the left hand is doing and thereby initiates persecution. The vast majority are either right brain or left brain in their thinking and thus are not able to readily "see" the other point of view. Yes, they are truly ignorant of the other viewpoint because they are hardwired that way as evidenced by the work of Dr. Cloninger which is cited above.

Astrology has as its origins the observations of early proto-scientists in the periodic movements of the visible planets. Observations which allowed those persons schooled in the traditions as handed down to make seemingly quite sophisticated predictions about the behavior of human beings. As knowledge of our universe became more comprehensive, our understanding of the complex nature of the biology, biochemistry and behavior of humankind has mushroomed. Neurobiology, the study of the nervous system and its behavioral correlates, has given to us an increasingly detailed understanding of the way the brain and its parts are hardwired (nerve connections) and softwired (interactions). Amazingly, the overall description of Astrological dogma matches that of the descriptions of the major systems and interactions of the NS. More importantly, both Astrology and Neurobiology describe the same behavioral characteristics, but in different terms. It is the biochemical expression of the brain which yields predictable behavior as both Astrology and Neurobiology describe respectively and in common to yield the discipline of Astrobiology.

A detailed description of Astrology is beyond the scope of this work. I will give an outline according to the knowledge possessed by myself of the general scheme of things. For a more detailed account, read the Sakoian & Acker book and the Handbook on Astrology. Both are excellent.

Astrology may be summarized as a matrix of several components. One being a set of Quadraplicities which represent three different modes of creativity and reaction. They are: 1. Cardinal-which symbolizes initial creation, the impetus to create and the making of beginnings. Then there is 2. Fixed-which symbolizes the creation of stability. The last is 3. Mutable-which symbolizes the alteration, transformation and adaptation of what has already been created.

The modes of reaction are 1. Cardinal-which is counter-action, the making of a second initiative to counter the first. Next is 2. Fixed-which is resistance or the effort to endure in the face of external initiative. The last of the reactions is 3. Mutable-which does not actively resist what is happening. Rather, it tries to alter it directly by bending the course of events onto a desired path.

The next set of components are the Triplicities which symbolize the modalities of existence, in factors that pertain to the characteristics of the behavior of a thing and in the different modes in which people are able to experience the essence of a thing. This is subjective rather than objective reality and experiential as opposed to factual reality.

The first Triplicity is that of Fire. Fire is the energy of Spirit. Fire operates by energizing and transforming. It is active and dominant, not willing to allow circumstances to take the initiative. It signifies will. Fiery entities manifest the qualities of process, change and evolution. Fire is an emotional element tending to the more active and dynamic emotions. Fire is outgoing, with connotation of strength in a masculine way. It is demanding in self as in others and it provides motivation to act.

The second is Earth. Earth is the direct experience of the physical universe. It symbolizes the quality of being substantial and material. It is both matter and the need to deal with matter. It limits freedom due to the nature of matter and the materiality of the world around us. Earth is also a support of and source of nurture. It is stable and passive, it needs to be acted upon and formed by an external energy. Earth needs to resist change and signifies structures which break down under pressure because they lack the flexibility that allows adaptation. Earth provides substance and therefore it is effective for actualization. Finally, Earth perceives reality very well but negates the emotions.

The third Triplicity is Air. Air is positive and relates everything encountered with all else. Air is connected with transport, of mostly ideas but also objects. Air is fond of abstraction but it is closer to physical reality than is Fire. Air is associated with thinking and logic, social and external concepts of truth. It is very social, but unable to handle real intimacy well. Air has the need to develop a sensitivity to the internal, emotional aspects of other people to match its comprehension of the external. The intellect is detached and objective as well as facile and quick; excellent for observing, planning and organizing. Air is excellent for original, creative thinking which is related to highly abstract and technical fields. Its combination of abstractness and practicality is an essential quality of the element of Air.

Lastly, is Water. Water is a style to grasp all as a whole. Water is a non-rational element which is not easily expressed, a subtle feeling-toned understanding. It is best at feeling relationships and the way everything interacts with every other thing. Communication is best through artistic expression such as art, music and poetry. Related to Water are very vivid personal experiences which tend to overwhelm external experiences. Water is the need to live in a clean psychic environment. Water understands the feelings and emotions of others better than any other type and is capable of great emotional depth and compassion for others. Air is creative imagination which requires some Earth for actualization. Water has the ability to see a possible existence where there was no existence before. Water brings new insights into the nature of human existence and the ability to understand ourselves better.

The last components of the matrix is the set of polarities which are much akin to yin (-) and Yang (+). The Matrix which gives expression as the Astrological Signs is thus a combination of the Polarities, Quadraplicities and Triplicities as delineated in the following table:

The Classical Astrological Matrix

Sign

=

Polarity

+

Quadriplicity

+

Triplicity

Aries


+


Cardinal


Fire

Taurus


-


Fixed


Earth

Gemini


+


Mutable


Air

Cancer


-


Cardinal


Water

Leo


+


Fixed


Fire

Virgo


-


Mutable


Earth

Libra


+


Cardinal


Air

Scorpio


-


Fixed


Water

Sagittarius


+


Mutable


Fire

Capricorn


-


Cardinal


Earth

Aquarius


+


Fixed


Air

Pisces


-


Mutable


Water

However, I prefer to view the Astrological Matrix in the context of the seven psychic centers as follows:

The Block Astrological Matrix

Fixed Signs


Mutable Signs


Cardinal Signs



Violet-Fire(+)

   

Leo


Sagittarius


Aries


       



Indigo-Earth(-)

   

Taurus


Virgo


Capricorn


       



Sky Blue-Air(+)

   

Aquarius


Gemini


Libra


       



New Leaf Green-Water(-)

   

Scorpio


Pisces


Cancer


       



Bright Yellow-Air(+)

   

Aquarius


Gemini


Libra


       



Orange-Earth(-)

   

Taurus


Virgo


Capricorn


       



Red-Fire(+)

   

Leo


Sagittarius


Aries

The reason for my preference stems from the adage, "As above, so below", or the fact that the light frequency/harmonic Nodes/Centers/Chakras for human life are reflexive about the Green Node with the Violet/Red Node being the most Yang (+) and the Indigo/Orange Node the most Yin (-). Maybe this is why the colors Black and Orange are associated with female Witches and All Hallows Eve or Halloween. Thus we have two poles of a dynamic field within which all else is derived and yields the Astrological Matrix. Each Astrological Sign has then an expression which is a combination of the elements of polarity, quadraplicity and triplicities. This yields a unique set of predictable behaviors. This fact leads us to the next chapter on Astrobiology where all of the Astrological, Neurobiological and Psychological disciplines come together as a cohesive whole and discipline in its own right.

The Macrocosm Within